Australia eves retain T20 World Cup title after beating England in 'nerve-racking' final

Colombo,
Mon, 08 Oct 2012ANI

Colombo, Oct 8(ANI): Australia's Southern Stars retained their Twenty20 World Cup title after beating England by four runs in dramatic final in Colombo, which ended on the last ball of the game.

23-year-old from Melbourne, Jess Cameron starred with the bat, scoring 45 from 34 balls and lifted her team to a daunting total of 142.

The English team, who were big favorites to win the tournament, tried their best while chasing but fell excruciatingly short.

The match was tense until the very end, with 16 needed from the last over, which was bowled by Erin Osborne, and her nerves showed, as she bowled a full toss, a no ball, a squirt to third man, a misfield and a run-out followed.

With six to get from the last ball, England's Danielle Hazell failed to get hold of a full toss, handing Australia a four-run victory, and it was also just England's second loss in 26 matches, the Age reports.

Fast bowler Ellyse Perry, an expert in pressure situations at World Cups, made the all-important breakthrough when Sarah Taylor, widely regarded as the best female cricketer in the world, chased an out swinger and was caught behind for 19.

It was a match-turning moment, exceeded only when Alex Blackwell launched herself forwards at full stretch at cover to grasp a low catch to rival any in the tournament, men's or women's.

The Australians dropped three catches but Blackwell's blinder to dismiss Danni Wyatt reduced England to 6-90 in the 15th over, which ultimately also cost them the World Cup. (ANI)